Flask-filling machine



`l`bec. 11 1923.

f l y1,476,688 E. s. CARMAN FLASK FILLING MACHINE:

Filed 'June` B. 1922 ATToRN Y6 Patented Dec. l1, 1923.

laatsera'rear carica.

EDWIN S. CARMAN, OF 'EAST CLEVELAND, onio, assicnon To THE osnoniv MANU- FLASK-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed June v8, 1922. Serial No. 566,889.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. CARMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ghio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flask-Fillin Machines, of which the folio-wing is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which l have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improvements have to do more particularly with on molding machines although applicable as well to the filling of flasks resting simply on the foundryfloor. ylt has been the general practice heretofore to manually shovel the sand into such flask, and whilean attempt to save the heavy labor thus involved has been made by conveying the sand into a hopper located above or to one side of the flask and then allowing same to discharge into the latter through suitable control gates, this method is likewise unsatisfactory, since the sand so discharged will natu.

rally pile up higher at the central point of discharge and so require t0 be subsequently distributed, entailing not only additional labor but leaving the sand unevenly compaeted.

The object of the present invention is to provide a conveying and distributing mechanism whereby the sand may not only be elevated to the necessary height for filling the flask, but can be evenly distributed upon the latter, reducing the amount of manual leveling to a minimum and depositing the sand under uniform pressure conditions throughout the entire extent of the flask. To the accomplishment of the Jforegoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the follo-wing 1description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and partial vertical section of my improved flask lling machine; and Fig. 2 is a broken front elevational view of the same, more particularly showing the discharge chute.

the filling of flasks The iiask 1 illustrated inthe drawing is shown as supported on an automatic inold-` ing machine of the type designed to'be sunk substantially below the level of the foundry floor 2, but, as previously indicated it is a matter of indifference, so far as the operation of the machine of present interest is concerned, how said flask is supported. The frame of the flask filling or loading mechanism is located adjacent the filling station and includes. a platform 3 from which rise vertical standards d. bBetween the latter is supported an endless conveyor 5 preferably of the bucket type, as shown,

such conveyor inclining at an angle to the vertical so that its upper end will project not only above but clear of the standards. The lower end of the conveyor extends into a hopper-like receptacle 6, preferably sunk below the floor level, and is laterally en closedon all sides for some distance above such floor level by a box-like structure 7. The front wall of such enclosure, however, terminates short of the adjacent wall ofthe hopper s0 as to leave an opening 8 through which the sand from a pile 9 may descend vinto the latter and be picked up bythe buckets of the conveyor 5. l

F or the purpose 'of driving the conveyor, an electric motor 10 is mounted on a bracket 11 projecting rearwardly from the upper ends of standards 4, said motor being vcon-v nected with the conveyor through a sprocket chain 12 and suitable reduction gearing 13.

Projecting forwardly from the frame 14 that directly supports the conveyor 5 are two laterally spaced arms 15, between which isv oscillatorilyl hung` about an axis aligned with the buckets an upper chute member 16. The front wall of the latter is considerably higher than the rear wall and the lower end of said member is laterally narrowed to form a V-shaped funnel 17 as best shown in Fig. 2. Pivotally attached to such funnel end of chute member 16 about an axis 18 at right angles to the axis of said member is a second chute member 19 that is preferably' of slightly tapering form from its upper to its lower end, the length of such member being such that its lower end terminates directly above the flask 1.

For the convenience of the operator in one of the leads 22 to the motor'lO.

such handle,

same while standing alongside the flask l on the molding machine. Associated with in such position that it may be actuated byA the same hand used to gras such handle without releasing the latter, is

an electric switch 21, that is interposed in Said switch is preferably of the usual rocking or push-button type, the buttons for'turn'- ing the current ofi and on being located soV l asto be operable by the thumb of the hand y gized to drive length of while still holding on to the' handle.

In operation, the motor l will be enertime necessary to ll the particular flask, such 'time depending of course on the size of the flask and the capacity of the conveyor, the latter being commercially made to handle as much as two yards of sand per minute, During the discharge of the Sand from the conveyortlirough the pendent chute the latter mayl be swung both back and" forth in the plane of'liig. 2 and atright angles to such plane, as indicated in F ig. 2, so that the sand deliveredI through suc chute ,will vbe evenly distributed throughout the whole of the flask, as will be readily'unders'toodi Very little leveling will accordi ingly benecessary and the-sand will be uniformly compacted asthus delivered.

Other'modes of applying the principle ofl my invention may be employed' instead of the one explained, change being madeV as Vregards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe fol"- lowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means bey employed.

I therefore particularly' point out and distinctly claim as my invention l; InI a machine for fillingsandrin flasks vand the like, the combinationof an inclined elevating conveyor, an electric motorV for operating said conveyor, a shiftable chutesuppo'rted Vatfthe upper endv ofl said conveyor, saidchute being-arranged to re ceive the material dischargedI from saidconveyo'r, a handle on said chute for oscillating same, andra switch for' controlling said Vmotorv`-r associated with said handle, vsaid v the conveyor only -during the pendent switchI beinglo'cated soiast'o be operable by the' same hand wherewith said handle is held; K l 2; In a machine forfillingvv salndfl in flasks and the' like,: the'- combination of-aV suitableframe including a platform, vertical standards rising" therefrom, an inclined endless conveyorsupported between said standards,

an enclosure laterally surrounding the lowerA Y end of said conveyor save for an opening on the upper side thereof, and'aA pendentl chute arranged to receive the material'discharged from the upper endof saidv conveyor,rsaid` chute comprising an upper memberv oscillatory about a fixed axisv supported at the upper end oflsaid conveyor, anda lowerk member attached' to the lower end of said' firstl member so as ,to'be oscillatory aboutl an Y axis at' right angles to such fixed axis, the front wallv of' said upper chute member rising higher' than the rear wall andthe lower end of saidmember being of funnel form.

3. In a machine fory filling sand Yin flasks and the like, tlie combination of a sui-table frame including a platform,vvertical stand# ards rising therefrom, an inclinedv endless conveyorv supported between said standards, an enclosure laterally surrounding the lower endof said conveyor save for an opening onk chute arranged' to receive the m'aterialdis-` vcharged from the upper end ofl said conveyor, saidchute comprising an upper memthe upper side thereof,a shiftable pendentY ber oscillatory about' a' fixed axis supported Yat the end of said conveyor, a lower member attacliedto the lower end of said first meniber so as to be oscillatory about anl aXis atv EDwrNs; cnRMnNg 

